Science can do it

The management of garbage in the capital city has been giving headaches to successive

governments. Unlike in other cities of the developed countries where wastes are managed scientifically, the garbage here is left to rot emitting odious stench and also posing a health hazard to the valley’s denizens. Moreover, the disposal of garbage in landfill sties has proved to be problematic, and it is often disrupted as a result of which wastes accumulate in the streets and by lanes. This also has been earning the city a bad name and tarnishing the image of this touristic city, and visitors leave with a negative impression that should be avoided at all costs.

Thus, Prime Minister Madav Kumar Nepal, soon after assuming office, had given directions to manage

the garbage and to prepare a proposal to expedite

it. Now, the Ministry of Local Development has

come up with one that has been forwarded to

the cabinet that proposes the formation of a

high-level special committee that would look into the scientific management of the garbage generated in the city. The proposal may sound ambitious, but, if it was implemented, then much headway could be made in waste management.

According to the proposal, the valley’s garbage

is to be managed in an integrated manner utilising the budget set aside for this purpose for the current fiscal year. It also proposes to involve the private sector in this venture by granting special incentives. Under it, the government would provide land for the plant that would mange the wastes scientifically and also

to exempt taxes for the trash-based industry. Herein, it must be noted that interest in this venture has already been

expressed by the private sector. They have also

studied the possibilities and have expressed

the confidence that they were up to the task. The

government so far has proved to be inept in managing the garbage as desired, so the participation of the private sector in this endeavour is very welcome and, that the government is willing to facilitate them, augurs well for the proposal.

Furthermore, the management of garbage in a

scientific manner could be a profitable enterprise

for through it compost fertilizers could be produced and wastes recycled, and it could also be used for

gas production. The idea of scientific garbage

management at present may not seem to be realistic, so it is for those involved in making the proposal and the agent that would be selected to conduct it be

serious about the whole thing. Feasibility studies should be conducted immediately and the necessary procedures completed in order to construct the plant that would scientifically manage the wastes. The country already possesses much of the manpower to operate such a plant, and, if necessary, the plant could be run with interested foreign entrepreneurs and the import of their technology. As we are in the 21st century, the country should keep up with the

sophisticated technology or be left behind. By all

accounts, waste management in the capital city is feasible but what is needed is that the task must be backed up by political will to do it.

Hide and seek

Chiefs of public service delivery offices absenting themselves for long periods regularly make

the rounds in new reports. This is more true for the remote regions than the other areas. The chiefs

and other staff of various offices are reported to

go on leave of various kinds or to attend seminars and workshops for months on end. Because of this tendency numerous government offices in the district headquarters cannot operate to the full sans the respective chiefs. The ministry or the department concerned ought to know the ground realities when the chiefs go on home leave or on some other reason. If the concerned officials have the information regarding this, they should make some reliable and appropriate arrangement so that the public service seekers are not inconvenienced.

Unfortunately, the discomforting fact remains that no action is taken keeping in mind the difficulties of the people. Such negligence are taking place even when every government after the declaration of Nepal as a republic has pledged to do everything possible to facilitate the people. But, they have remained hollow promises worth nothing as the accountability factor has gone missing so glaringly.